Private Tour

Private Group Eagle Preserve Float Trip in Haines

Overview

Available languages

English

Spanish

5 hours

Mobile ticket

Simply put, a private rafting excursion is the best possible way to see bald eagles in their natural habitat. Floating through the heart of the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve in Haines Alaska is a must see attraction and you won't want to miss the jaw dropping scenery, delightful guides and genuine Alaskan wildlife.

Watch eagles catching salmon and caring for young eagles in the numerous nests that line the riverbanks. Look for bears, moose, and a host of other wildlife that call the preserve home.

Relax or take pictures as your private guide navigates the narrow channels of the Preserve's glacial fed rivers.

Enjoy a hearty snack and hot drinks at the end of the tour.

Local pickup and all river gear is included.

Additional Info

Public transportation options are available nearby

Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

At time of booking, cruise ship passengers must provide the following information: ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time

Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking

Vegetarian option is available; please advise at time of booking if required

Children must be accompanied by an adult

Operates in all weather conditions; please dress appropriately

Minimum age is 4 years old

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Local guide

All taxes, fees and handling charges

Pickup and drop-off

Snacks

Rafting equipment

Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

What To Expect

Your private group of up to 8 people will be picked up by your guide for a short (30 minutes) van ride to the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve. Once at the launch site you will don life jackets and rubber boots and listen to a safety briefing before climbing into your raft. For the next few hours you will drift swiftly along watching the numerous eagles that come to the river to fish. Bears and moose as well as a host of other birdlife also call the Preserve home and a keen eye will find an infinite number of sights to behold. The guide does all of the rowing so you can enjoy the scenery and wildlife. Cameras and binoculars are welcome but remember the rule of the river - the more expensive your equipment, the faster it sinks. You will finish the trip with a riverside picnic before heading back to town with your guide.

Options

Eagle Preserve Float Trip in Haines

Option 1: Relaxing 4 hour tour of the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve by raft. Trip includes dockside / hotel pickup, river gear and a light snack of locally caught smoked salmon. Cameras are welcome.
Pickup included

Eagle Preserve Float Trip

Eagle Preserve Float Trip: Relaxing 4 hour tour of the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve by raft. Trip includes dockside / hotel pickup, river gear and snack.
Pickup included

Reviews

4.93

83 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Great float trip.
Coastal238591,
Sep 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Great experience! Professional, knowledgeable and dedicated people that truly care about your having an exceptional trip. Highly recommended!
Great time!
950alexiss,
Jul 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Awesome adventure with fantastic guides. Jack was great! The ferry ride over was relaxing. Alex is a great bus driver. Absolutely stunning views
Storyteller472468,
Jul 24, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Fantastic trip from start to finish. We were picked up from our accommodation and transported about half an hour to the start. We were immediately told interesting information about the local area and wildlife and this continued throughout the trip. It was such a peaceful rafting trip through beautiful countryside. Unfortunately we didn’t see much eagle activity but realise that cannot be guaranteed. Would love to go again.
Haines highlight
H5089NJceciliac,
Jul 7, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We had the best time on this float trip. Andy our guide was extremely knowledgeable about the local area and wildlife and also impressed us with his river skills. We saw a bear and a moose just on the drive there and saw lots of bald eagles. The snack at the end provided by our drive Leigh was also very welcome. We also really appreciated that this was a small group trip so we had the river to ourselves. Definitely the highlight of our trip to Haines!
Great trip. Zack was an...
Ben B,
Jun 22, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Great trip. Zack was an amazing guide and very informative. The horseflies were a little annoying but maybe some bug spray would have helped.
Awesome guides
J7911NWlauras,
Jun 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
The guides were amazing! Extremely nice and knowledgeable. We learned all about salmon and eagles. Even though the weather was rainy and cold, we had a great time.
Favorite excursion of our trip!
gaylap403,
Sep 22, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We booked this excursion through our Holland America ship and it was a glorious day on the river! The ferry ride from Skagway to Haines had amazing views and narration. All the guides were so friendly and knowledgeable of AK, the river and bald eagles. We had a beautiful sunny day and saw SO many bald eagles! They were on the ground, sitting in trees, flying through the air, “talking” to each other! We also saw two nests which are SO impressive! The views from the water are spectacular and the guides made you feel safe and secure! A simple but yummy lunch of chicken Cesar wrap, chips and homemade cookies were provided!
Great float trip
Ben S,
Sep 12, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00
Great trip and rafting guide. Andy was super knowledgeable and flexible on trip timing. Saw tons of eagles, geese and ducks. Beautiful scenery on the river. Windy with some rain, but still an enjoyable trip for a group of 8 (4 adults/4 kids).
Beautiful rafting trip
Amanda T,
Sep 11, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We had the best day with Andy and Mark!! The weather gods blessed us with a beautiful day and we had an amazing trip down the Chilkat River. We saw an abundance of eagles, bear tracks, salmon and so much more. Andy and Mark are so knowledgeable and explained everything!! We will definitely book with them again. Best day so far of our Alaskan cruise!!
Great interesting tour
laurasZ3143NB,
Sep 10, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Great guided tour. Throughly enjoyed the float. Wear 2 or more socks and rain gear. The eagles are more distant views but still very beautiful float. The bus ride up and Back is narrated. It’s an all day event.